Tag: depression

Posted in depression, mental illness

HotLines & Helplines-What You Need to Know

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Have you ever felt that you need to talk to someone but you don’t know where to turn?  Did you ever think of calling a Crisis Hotline?  Maybe you don’t think you are in crisis.  You don’t want to ‘bother’ someone if it’s not really an emergency.  Maybe you’re embarrassed.  Right?  

You don’t need to be experiencing a crisis to contact a crisis hotline. At most of these hotlines, the volunteers and counselors who answer calls, texts and chat messages are trained to help someone in crisis. But you can also reach out if you’re feeling sad, anxious or stressed and don’t know where to turn. 

These hotlines also serve friends, family members and loved ones of someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse, addiction and many other issues. 

Even if someone at the crisis hotline cannot help you with your specific needs, they can point you to the right resources that can. No one will ever make you feel bad for trying to get help, and no concern is too trivial or small. If it feels hard for you to manage, it’s worth reaching out.

There is a list of phone numbers, text numbers, websites and more ways to contact someone for help on my Mental Health Help page HERE. Below are a few of those. 

The Suicide Prevention Hotline in the US, available 24/7, is 988.  If you have any problem with this #, please dial the old # 1-800-273-8255. 

Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me in the past.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

Want to do an online chat?  There’s a site for that too.  Find it HERE.

You can even TWEET with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on Twitter.

As always, thank you for joining me on this journey. Penny ❤

Posted in mental illness

New Mental Health Resources

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Since I started my Mental Health Help page HERE, I have been contacted by various companies that have asked me to add their Mental Health resources to my page.   I’m thrilled that these people have reached out. Getting information for Mental Health help is not easy.  Resources are hard to find.  Below are some wonderful people that have asked me to add their information to my page.  Since these additions are new, I wanted to bring your attention to them.  Take a minute to look these over.  There may be something here that will be the right answer for you or someone you know.   

Illnesses and other tragedies can bring on Depression and other mental health problems.  The website Asbetos.com is sponsored by The Mesothelioma Center.  This wonderful website deals with not only Mesothelioma, but the Mental Health issues that often accompany a diagnosis.  You can find more information and resources HERE.  and HERE.

With locations in Florida, New Jersey and Indiana, the Boca Recovery Center focuses on addiction, pregnancy, eating disorders, and mental health issues.  You can reach them 24/7 at 1-800-516-4357 or email them at contact@bocarecoverycenter.com

In New York State, Niagara County, is the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.  716-278-4541 is the phone number for “The Wellness Connection Center.” Walk-in hours are 8-11 AM. They accept Medicare and Medicaid and also have sliding scale fees for others with private insurance if they find their co-pay to be too high.

*Do you have information about an organization that has help available to people with mental health concerns?  Or do you know of a hotline, crisis phone number, or website that I do not have listed on my Help Page? If so, please contact me and if it applies, I will add the information to my Mental Health Help page.  

The Suicide Prevention Hotline in the US, available 24/7, is 988.  If you have any problem with this #, please dial the old # 1-800-273-8255. 

Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me in the past.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

Want to do an online chat?  There’s a site for that too.  Find it HERE.

You can even TWEET with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on Twitter.

You can also find more information on my Mental Health Help page  HERE. 

As always, thank you for joining me on this journey. Penny ❤

Posted in depression, mental illness

No Shame

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  With this in mind, please read the piece below. 

I’ve heard people say things like “Oh, she’s just depressed”.  Just?

Most people, unless they’ve been there, have no idea what depression is really all about.  Most people use the word Sad.

It’s not really sad.  But yeah, sometimes it is.  It’a hollow, hopeless, emptiness, that consumes you.  Your world is black and bleak.  Nothing matters.

You could be expecting your first grandchild, or your son’s dream of attending Yale just came true, it doesn’t matter.  You put on a brave face, smile and act the part, but inside, you are barely functioning.

This is depression.

Continue reading “No Shame” →

Posted in mental illness

World Teen Mental Health Day

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Being a teen is hard enough.  If you add mental health struggles to that, makes life for some unbearable.  In this world of social media, peer pressures can be amplified.  Anxiety and Depression are the most common issues dealt with. 

Depression and Anxiety should not be taken lightly.  Teen suicides have increased dramatically since 2019.  

What can you do to help?  

*Be watchful of behavioral changes in your teen.  Are they isolating themselves more?  Have they lost interest in things that used to bring them joy?  Is your teen sleeping more or have a change in their eating habits?  

*Listen without judgement.  So often, people will keep the signs of Anxiety and Depression hidden for fear of being judged.  The feeling of shame is strong among those that suffer because of the stigma attached.  

*Talk to your teen.  Be willing to start the conversation.  We, as parents, don’t always know what to do, so we hope they will “grow out of it”, or that it’s “just a phase” they are going through.  Because your teen is keeping things to themselves, you will often need to make the first move to start the conversation about what they are struggling with.  

*Reach out.  Seek help in dealing with your teen’s struggles.  If you don’t know where to start, often your family doctor can help steer you in the right direction for resources in your area.  

*Educate yourself.  Being aware of the issues and their symptoms can be a huge help.  There are many helpful websites for this.  This is a good place to start: https://988lifeline.org/

The Suicide Prevention Hotline Phone # is 988. 

You don’t need to be experiencing a crisis to contact a crisis hotline. At most of these hotlines, the volunteers and counselors who answer calls, texts and chat messages are trained to help someone in crisis. But you can also reach out if you’re feeling sad, anxious or stressed and don’t know where to turn. 

These hotlines also serve friends, family members and loved ones of someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse, addiction and many other issues. 

Even if someone at a crisis hotline cannot help you with your specific needs, they can point you to the right resources that can. No one will ever make you feel bad for trying to get help, and no concern is too trivial or small. If it feels hard for you to manage, it’s worth reaching out.

For more information and other helpful resources and articles, please visit my Mental Health Help Page HERE.

Copyright (C) 2023 Penny Wilson

 

Posted in depression, Uncategorized

Depression-A Killer

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

How long will this subject remain in the shadows?  How long will it have such a stigma attached to it that people dare not even use the word ‘Depression’?

Life has no value to depression.  EVERY DAY 121 Americans commit suicide.  50% of those people suffered from depression.

More than 38,000 people a year commit suicide.  Yet 80 to 90% of those that seek help for depression are helped  using therapy and/or drugs.

The problem with that, is the fact that only about 50% of those that suffer from depression seek help. Why?  Because it’s a dirty little secret that no one wants to talk about!

Kurt Cobain, Robbin Williams, Mindy McCready, director of the movie Top Gun Tony Scott, linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs; Jovan Belcher, actress Lucy Gordon and Jonathan Brandis-star of The Never Ending Story.  These are all people that committed suicide.  I could easily fill a page with names.

Depression is sneaky and deceptive.  It creeps into your life in such subtle ways, you don’t even know it’s happening until one day, you look around yourself and your entire word has gone grey.  What I mean by grey, is that your world no longer has any color to it.  It has no life.  NOTHING matters any more.  NOTHING brings you joy.  Depression has stolen that from you.

(this is one of those things that No One wants to talk about or admit to) I am one of the lucky ones.  I’ve struggled with depression off and on for most of my life. I never attempted suicide, but I did think about it at times.

Right now, I’m good.  Hell, I’m great!  Life is wonderful, alive and quite rich for me.  But I never know if or when it may come into my life again.  I hope never.  But I can’t be certain of that.   

WEB MD says that some of the signs of depression are:

  • Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
  • Impaired concentration, indecisiveness
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
  • Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day (called anhedonia, this symptom can be indicated by reports from significant others)
  • Restlessness or feeling slowed down
  • Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
  • Significant weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month)

If you know of someone that might be depressed, reach out to them.  Start a conversation.  Let them know that it’s alright to talk about it!  Let’s bring depression out of the shadows and into the light.  This is the only way people are going to feel safe enough to talk about it and seek help.  

* I found my information/statistics at various websites.  Here are a few that have wonderful articles on depression and how to seek help:

WEDMD

SAVE.ORG

Mental Health America

Copyright (C) 2018 Penny Wilson

Please be sure to check out my Mental Health Help Page for more helpful resources.

*I know that this is a repeat of an older post, but I felt that it was worth repeating. ❤

Posted in depression, mental illness, Writing

Emotional Intelligence Developer Website

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

The nice people at the Emotional Intelligence Developer’s website have asked me to be a contributor on their blog.  What EID says about their site:

“Emotional Intelligence is all about developing your mental and emotional control (EQ)

Read Self-help content published by writers who promote (EQ). Our messages are broad. The work shared on this website comes from writers who are passionate about helping people grow.”

My first post on EID’s site is called No Shame.  Please give it a look, spend some time on the site and show them a little love.  

Thank you! Penny ❤

Posted in depression, Life, mental illness, Writing

New Year and Depression

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

As the end of the year approaches, we all tend to reflect on what has happened over the course of the year.  I want to go back a little further than that.

In May of 2017, I came out of a several-years-long depression.  I remember it so clearly.  It was like a veil had been lifted and I was seeing the world for the first time.

With this in mind, I looked back at my stats for the last couple of year here on WordPress.

In 2017 there was a good-sized spike in my activity here.  That new enthusiasm to write was due to the “awakening” from my depression.

My Most Viewed post of all time has been one I titled Depression-A-Killer.  That tells me that there is still a HUGE need for enlightenment, awareness and information.  The stigma remains, but I do think that the battle to end it is making progress.

Why do I write about Depression?   EVERY DAY 121 Americans commit suicide.  50% of those people suffered from depression.  Reason enough?  I thought so too. If you need help -The Suicide Prevention Hotline, available 24/7 is 1-800-273-8255  Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me at times.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

The one thing in my life that I am most thankful for is the end of my depression.  Depression took so much from me, it feels amazing to have my life back.  I’m happier than I’ve ever been and my life is full and rich.  I have many, many blessings.

If you would like to see any of the other pieces I’ve written about Depression, you can find those HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

As you can see this is a subject that is important to me. 🙂 ❤

As we go into a new year, I want to thank all of you that have joined me on this up and down journey.  I hope that each of you are blessed with every happiness your heart could desire.

Please check out my page on Mental Health Help HERE. 

*Update from 2023

The post above was originally written in 2018. My depression is thankfully in check.  I cherish each day that I am free from that darkness.  At the end of 2021, I did have a period of time where my Depression and Anxiety peaked.  But early into 2022, that had once again abated.  My life is rich, full and so very blessed. 

Posted in depression, mental illness

I’m not fine

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

The truth is, you see, I’m not fine.  What the world sees is a lie.  A lie to help them cope.  A lie to help me cope.

My lies serve me well.  Sometimes.  They hide the demons that fly under the radar to steal my mind.

I keep a careful watch.  But, they come whether I want them to or not.  I must be ever vigilant, to recognize them before they pounce.  Their disguises vary with each encounter.

There is a sense, a feeling, that they are coming.  Sometimes.  Other times, they attack without warning.

I lose the will of pretending at times.  I give in to them.  They are stronger than I am.  My resolve to smile and continue the lies wane.  I will retreat to my little cave under the covers.  If I sleep, I then find respite, a reprieve from the continual onslaught.  The darkness of sleep is preferable to the darkness I am subjected to by the demons.

Then, miraculously, they’re gone.  They’ve retreated back to where they came from; to the dark, dank recesses of my mind.  Perhaps they are gathering forces to come again.  Perhaps they are gone forever.  I don’t know.  I won’t know until they return, if they return.

For now, my days are brighter.  I can look forward to tomorrow.

Copyright (C) 2022 Penny Wilson

*This is a work of fiction, my friends.  I am well and doing fine.  I haven’t written about Depression in a while and wanted to do so.

*If you or someone you know needs help, Please TALK to someone.  Please see more helpful resources on my Mental Health Help Page HERE.

Image by Constance Kowalik from Pixabay

Posted in depression, mental illness

Stephen “Twitch” Boss

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

EllensGOG-S2-CastBioImage-tWitch-450x450.jpg (450×450)

You may or may not be aware of the passing of Stephen “Twitch” Boss.  He was a lot of things to a lot of people.  Father, husband, dancer, and actor.  He was the Executive Producer of the Ellen DeGeneres Show.  He was also Ellen’s DJ and dance partner. 

Sadly, Twitch lost his life to suicide on December 14th, 2022.  

By all outward appearances, he was a happy, successful person.  I read that one of his friends said that “You never know what’s going on between someone’s ears”.   So true. 

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the Suicide Prevention Helpline at 988. 

On my Mental Health Help Page, you can find many sources for help and articles on the subjects of Depression and other Mental Health issues.  HERE is a piece I wrote regarding the link between Depression and Suicide.  

Every day, approximately 130 Americans die by suicide. (CDC)

There is one death every 11 minutes in the U.S. by suicide. (CDC)

Suicide takes the lives of over 48,500 Americans every year. (CDC) 

Nearly 800,000 people die by suicide in the world each year, which is roughly one death every 40 seconds.

Is talking to someone too much for you?  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

The bottom line is to TALK.  Please, just reach out and TALK to someone.  Anyone.  There is help available.  Just reach out a hand. 

Copyright (C) 2022 Penny Wilson

*Image found online. Acknowledgements to the owner of the image. 

Posted in Poetry, Prose

Dragons in the Dark

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

dragon10

My dragons burrow deep and sleep the sleep of the evil.  They lie in wait.  They make sure I have my defenses down; that I am once again comfortable in my own skin.

My peripheral vision sees the shadow of these beasts occasionally as they melt into the background.  I try as I might to catch them before they are loose, but they are too clever.

These dragons will creep into my room and sit at the foot of my bed, watching as I slumber.  I have fooled them only once; feigning sleep as their foul breath assaults my senses.  The stench of their evil is almost overwhelming.

I have awakened on many moonless nights, sure I would see them.  My heart is in my throat as I sweep the room.  I must be sure to catch them if they linger.  All that lingers is the cold sweat that penetrates my gown and their stench.  Sleep will elude me this night, for the dragons have already started their assault.

With the dawn, I greet the day with trepidation.  How will the dragons manifest this time?  Will I find myself once again in the dark?  Will I be alone with my dragons, with nothing more than hope to see my way back into the light?

As I lock the front door and walk down the street, I can feel the dragons’ breath on my neck….

Amazing image found on Google Images.  Credit to the wonderful artist that created it.  

Copyright (C) 2014 Penny Wilson All Rights Reserved

*This piece was written about my struggle over the years with Depression. I’m in a good place these days, thank God.  But my mind has been on the ongoing struggle that many have with Mental Illness.  The Struggle IS Real.  For Help and articles that I’ve compiled and written on the subject, please visit my Mental Health Help Page HERE.

Please also see my recent post, asking for your help with much needed resources, HERE. Thank you for joining me on this journey. ❤